Pastor James Clouse is an ordained minister from Waterford, MI. Pastor James is the new principal at CenterPoint Christian Academy. He became an ordained minister in 2013 after serving the church for over 15 years. He went into full time ministry as a student pastor in Georgia for almost 4 years, and then came back to Michigan to serve as a student pastor in Goodrich, MI. Pastor James also has experience in substitute teaching in the area.

Pastor James and his family enjoy hiking, exploring, and finding new places to dine. He also enjoys reading, sports, and board games. His family currently attends Flint City Church in Flint, MI where he serves as a pastor of the church. Pastor James and his wife Amanda have been married for 18 years and have an 11-year-old daughter, Lorelai. His favorite Bible passage is Philippians 2:3-4.

Pastor James is excited for his new role as the principal and looks to focus on the student’s spiritual growth while at the school.

I am pleased to be here at CenterPoint Academy where I am teaching Fourth and Fifth Grades this year. I graduated from  Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education, and went on to receive my Masters Degree in Music Education at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. I taught for 39 years in Lapeer, Michigan and in Spring Hill, Florida before coming out of retirement to teach here at CenterPoint. When I’m not teaching I enjoy spending time with family, playing guitar, listening to good music, golfing and bicycling.

I am excited to teaching Kindergarten at CenterPoint Christian Academy. Since a child, my career goal was to be an elementary teacher! I have a B.A. in Elementary Education/ English (K-8) with a Learning Disabilities Endorsement (K-12).  Upon college graduation, I taught one year as Elementary Teacher at my alma mater North Branch Wesleyan Academy and five years in the public schools as a Junior High Resource Room teacher. After a thirteen-year absence, I decided to get my teaching certificate reinstated.  I have been much happier returning to my true calling- teaching elementary students! Outside of the workplace, I enjoy walking and reading Christian books (particularly Romantic Suspense). We enjoy looking for deals!  My husband Douglas and I enjoy taking day trips, camping, kayaking, snowmobiling, sightseeing and  visiting lighthouses and waterfalls.  Every year, we visit the Mackinaw Bridge and the Upper Peninsula.  

I have been working at CCA, in different capacities, since 2005. My husband, Jeremy, and I live in Montrose, and have a daughter Moriah (who is a 2022 CCA graduate) and a son Jeremy Jr. (who has attended CCA since he was in daycare). We are members of Faith Christian Family Church in Lapeer. When we are not working, we enjoy cheering on our kids in all of their sports; and going Up North to relax around the campfire. CCA has been such a big part of our lives since our kids were little; that the staff, and families alike, have become like family to us. They are not just here to teach our children, but to love them and point them to Jesus. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this staff. My prayer for our students is 1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

My name is Lutullus Penton (Lu).

I am originally from Flint, Michigan. Upon graduating from Flint Southwestern High School. I attended American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee for two years. I joined SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) a year before Dr. King was killed in Memphis, Tennessee. I was then compelled to join the Civil Rights movement full time as a Community Organizer. After traveling across the Nation doing Civil rights work for the next 5 years, I came back to Flint and attended the University of Michigan where I picked up a Bachelor’s degree in World History and a double minor in Urban Studies and African, African American History. I later acquired my Masters Degree in Liberal Studies (MLS) with a concentration in American Culture.

After Graduating with my BA, I taught in many of the Flint Public schools for the next 5 years. However, I spent most of my professional career as a Public Administrator. For the past 7 years I have been working at the GISD (Genesee Intermediate School District) as a Substitute Teacher, a Para-Pro and a School Bus Driver for special needs children.

I am a licensed ordained Minister and Associate Pastor.  I was raised in the church and called to the ministry in 1962, a few months after my father’s untimely death. God comforted me and spoke to my heart. He affirmed that He is my Father, He is a Father to the Fatherless, and that He would never leave me or forsake me and that I would teach and preach His Gospel.  Even though I strayed from Him for a time He never left me. He is faithful, a good, good Father. He has worked throughout the history of mankind His divine purpose, and I want the world to know it.

Some of my hobbies include Civil War reenactor, running, and working out. I am a musician, playwriter, and actor, I have also served and am serving in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

I am confident that this school year is going to be an awesome year and that the Lord is going to do great things in our classes! Continually pray for our school throughout the year that we will have strength in and through faith, hope and love, and that everything we do is to God’s glory.

In praise to God,

Mr. Lutullus Penton Jr.